Author: otterbeinmc

It was Ralph Waldo Emerson, who said;

“The Earth laughs in flowers.” 

One year, when my maternal grandma, Valda Norris, (Gran) travelled with my parents, to the Azalea Festival, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, she looked around at all of the colors, and said;

“Ohh! 

It’s like eating too much ice cream!”

Every time I think of that story, it makes me smile, as I think flowers are nice, but I would most likely take the ice cream.  I’m not sure what my Gran would do, if she had to make a choice.  She really loved flowers!

As we reflect on flowers, we find them amazing for their created beauty, variety, brilliant colors and fragrance.

Jesus Himself, chose to be known as;

The Rose of Sharon, and The Lily of the Valley.

God uses flowers, like the dogwood, or the poinsettia, tell the story of the death and resurrection of Christ.

Jesus told a Parable, which featured flowers:

Matthew 6:28-33 …

28 “And why do you worry about clothes?

See how the flowers of the field grow.

They do not labor or spin.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

In this crazy spring of 2020, I notice the flowers are not worried about the Corona virus.  They are simply doing what flowers do – pushing-up through the ground, to announce their presence, in the most vibrant and colorful ways! But even as somewhat simple organisms, they are able to reflect God’s Glory and thereby, bring Glory to Him.

It was Jesus, Who asked us to consider the lilies of the field, because worry is not in their DNA, but if we don’t see past the lilies of the field, we might miss the focus of Jesus’ parable:

God is the real focus of Jesus’ story.

It is God, Who “clothes” the grass of the field.

We know, that flowers do not have a moral conscience, and therefore, they simply behave as they have been created to do: they praise the Lord, by reflecting His beauty.

And God only called these exquisite beauties “good”.

Whereas, after creating Adam and Eve, in His own image …

God describes humanity, as “Very good”.

We worry about uncertain times, we worry about wars and rumors of wars, disease, earthquake, famine and flood; because we were created, with a capacity to worry – but don’t forget what the Apostle Paul, inspired the Holy Spirit, said to Philippi – “Be anxious about nothing.”

I know, it’s easy for me to say and hard for you to do.

God does allow some bad things to happen, and we do not fully understand His purpose, but we do have His help!

Jesus said;

33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

One of the things God can give you, is His protective care.

Some hardship will get through, but we have no idea, of the things which never reach us, due to God’s surrounding Presence.

Trust in the Lord and you will not be disappointed.

Bless your Hearts,

Pastor Michael Eurit

https://www.upperroom.org/devotionals

Holy Week and the celebration of Resurrection Sunday, begin in just a few days.

In the midst of everyone’s preoccupation with physical health, it could be possible to lose sight of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection – so our observance of the most holy time in all of Christendom, must be intentional, and at the very center of our priorities and focus.

Here is an immutable (unchangeable) fact: Jesus is Alive!!!

But … we also need to be aware; His Life changes everything.

We certainly know, our whole lives have changed in the past several weeks, and … we have found individual ways of coping with it.

As I walked through Wally World, (alias name for a large discount store) my humanness rose-up in me and I was angry; the toilet paper was gone.  All of the hand sanitizer was gone.  Why did some people think they needed a room full of these supplies, only to leave others without any!

But then, God reminded me; people are just scared.  They don’t know what to do.

They are afraid of a bug they cannot see.  It could be anywhere, just waiting for them, on a shopping cart handle or the gas pump handle.

Some of these people are trying to cope, without Jesus in their hearts.

When I look at it, this way, then my heart goes out to them.

I want to shout from the rooftop:

Jesus is the answer!  And … there’s enough of Him, to go around for everybody!

He is God, over anything that might try to threaten us!

He has the power to preserve, to restore, or even to bring back our lives!

With His Holy Spirit in my heart, I am more than equipped to trust Him, in these difficult days.

Fear, sadness, illness and death and destruction are all defeated by the power of the Holy Spirit; resurrection power is the power of the Holy Spirit.

Recently, while I was praying, God showed me a vision of a corona virus cell.  It was suspended in front of me.  It looked like the pictures I have seen on-line; being whitish in color, with red triangles all over it.

Then, suddenly the power of the Holy Spirit came down from Heaven.

God’s Spirit went to the center of the corona virus cell, and began to swirl around inside.  As His Spirit invaded the virus cell, it was turned in color, to a beautiful Spring green.  Then the cell was whisked away, as if blown away by the wind, not to be seen again.

In this vision, God did not speak a word, but I understood, clearly, what He was telling me; God is the power over sin, sickness and death.

Complicated?  No.

Profound?  Yes!!!

God is not the author of sickness.

God is not the author of sadness.

God is not the author of death.

Our Glorious God is the Author of Life … and Life abundant!

It is up to me (and you) what we do with this information.

It can lead to everlasting life … or we can deny His power and refuse Him, and choose to spend eternity apart from Him.

It completely baffles me, why some people refuse to love a God Who first Loves them unconditionally!

I don’t get it.

You may not get it either.

But … whether we get it, or not, we can pray for them.

Jesus commanded us to love everybody:

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Matthew 5:43-44

I am so glad, that Jesus Loves me,

Jesus Loves me,

Jesus Loves me.

I am so glad, that Jesus Loves me.

Jesus Loves even me!

I am so glad, that He Loves you too and because He Loves us, we can love each other.

Bless your hearts, Pastor Michael

In the early chapters of the Acts of the Apostles, there is a tremendous out-pouring of God’s Spirit, in Jerusalem.  Thousands of people placed their faith in Christ, as the result of God working through the ministry of Peter and John.

The record of converts is reported in Acts 4:4 …

“4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”

An incredible movement of God’s Spirit!

And yet … this glorious time of the growth of God’s Kingdom is also marked by the opposition of the enemy.

The priests and Sadducees, arrest Peter and John and place them in jail over-night.  As the Spirit moves Peter, he tells them:

8b “Rulers and elders of the people!

9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,

10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

11 Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’[Psalm 118:22]

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Over the years, I have noticed something.  When you answer God’s call, to serve Him in the world, the enemy of God will oppose you.

Is this a reason not to serve the LORD?

By no means!

God is faithful to defend His children!

The enemy can never attack the children of God, any more than God allows.  While it is true, that God does sometimes allow us to be impacted by the enemy’s opposition, this in no way means that we should be too afraid to serve the LORD.

Any strength trainer knows: there must be resistance, in order to achieve growth. 

Where we could get into trouble, is by being tempted to take our eyes off of the LORD, and focus, instead, on the problems we face.

When king Jehoshaphat was being attacked by a vast army of Ammonites and Moabites, the LORD spoke to him, in 2 Chronicles 20:15 …

“15 He said: ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.’”

Over the years, I have come to decide, that the more the enemy opposes a servant of God, the more the LORD is planning to d

o through that ordinary person.

So how about you?

Have you faced opposition in your faith?

Not only are there daily personal struggles, we also struggle to carry out God’s mission to reach the lost, disciple believers and equip the saints.

I love it, when a plan comes together.  The Bible is God’s plan for humanity, and He is absolute Truth!  We’ve read the end of the Book.  We know how it turns out: God wins.

Ultimate victory belongs to God and to all, who are faithful to Him.

Stand to serve Him.

Where do you stand with the all-powerful God of the universe?

Do you know Him?

He Loves you; He wants to know you … and … He has a wonderful plan for your life!

Start living into it!

Through prayer, worship, fellowship, service and biblical study, God has mapped-out a strategy for our success.

Yet, even if we do fail … because we have been faithful, we win!

Prayer is our invitation, to God, to inhabit our lives and bless our efforts for Him.  This is true in our personal lives, and, it is true in our community of faith, or church family.

Are you committed to a ministry of prayer?

I hope we all could commit to such an important aspect of our faith and work for the LORD.

As you prayerfully discern the LORD’s will, for your life and the life of our Church, may He richly bless and keep you, and remember:

1 John 4:4 says,

“4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

It pleases the LORD, when we worship Him together.

I hope to see you in worship!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Michael

It is the year of our LORD, 2020.

When we visit the eye doctor, we hope for at least 2020 vision, which means we see at 20 feet, what the “normal” human eye can see, at 20 feet.

However, with corrective lenses, some people can improve their vision, to see at 20 feet, what the normal human eye must have at 15 feet, to perceive clearly.

In terms of our walk with the LORD, what does it mean, to have spiritual Vision?

Perhaps, having at least the faith of a mustard seed, to consider how God could transform something in the future, or, better yet, to have heard Him speak, as to how something will be.

What do we need?

The needs of people all around us, are forever changing.

They change from season to season, and they can change from moment to moment!

In terms of our faith, we want to:

“Know Christ and make Christ known to all.”

A year ago, we could only speculate, as to how this last year would unfold – but some, among us, were sensitive to the Holy Spirit; some were able to receive knowledge from Him; and, some were even using God’s spiritual gift of prophecy, to know and convey to God’s people, what the LORD is currently saying.

An authentic prophetic word will never contradict the Word of God.

Does that mean we can know everything which will take place, in the future? No.

Perhaps, we need the kind of corrective lenses, which only God can provide.

But God has already equipped us, with everything we need, to serve Him and to rely on Him.  He has made sure, that we are not alone.

We have the Body of Christ, to be a part of, and to function within, as God has gifted us, accordingly.

We have His recorded WORD, in the Holy Scriptures, His divinely inspired message of Love, to you and to me.

It is News good enough, to share!

It pleases Him, when we worship Him together, and I hope to see you, in worship!

In His Love,

Pastor Michael